IR and the bass guitar

[alwarpet_andavan]

In my mind, IR's usage of the bass guitar is special and unique in that it has both variety and depth, especially the songs composed during the eighties. True, Keith Peters is as good as anybody around, but let's focus on bass in IR's songs here.

The unique feature of IR's bass usage is the unconventional nature of support that the bass gives to the songs, in that, in some cases ("Thumbi Vaa") the bass guitar instead of acting as a support/rhythm instrument, acts as the lead in carrying the song. A list of such songs would run too long and hence we can discuss about a song or a few songs apiece.

Another unique feature is IR's tendency to use the "high" notes of the bass, especially in the beginning of songs - ("Kodai Kaala kaatre", "Kadavul Ullame or karunai illame", when the pallavi starts in "Madram vandha", to name a few...). This usage is also not common in rock/pop genres but can be found in jazz were the bass counters the main instrument (Sax, piano etc).......

Experts please enlighten this novice on this.......

[app_engine]

http://tfmpage.com/forum/6147.06.48.17.html
This has some references. However, there was still another older thread which had excellent postings (by Srinath, who was a bass guitarist himself and others)...I think that was probably lost during a server crash...can't see that in the archives anymore...

[S.Balaji]

Please listen to the song MEEN KODI THERIL MANMADHA RAAJAN OORVALAM POGINRAAN...from Karumbu vil....

and also

Madai thirandhu thaavum nadhiyalai naan from Nizalgal...

These 2 numbers come to my memory immediately....

Highly Bass guitar based songs....

Infact, IR pioneered the art of Bass guitar usage in Tamil film music...

[venus05]

Hi AA,

Please find the following posting I posted few days ago in the thread "IR's Composing techniques"

http://users.wireweb.net/green/pianolessons.htm
In the above link, there are some very interesting lessons on bass patterns. Please click lessons #26,#27,#28 and #29.

In the lesson #28, the author introduces the "Walking Bass Pattern". He explains that there are hundreds of patterns like this used in Rock& roll and other style of music.

At the bottom of the page he gives a link to a MIDI file where he has used the pattern in a actual song.

http://users.wireweb.net/green/pianolesson28.htm

I could think of three songs in which IR used similar patterns

1. Rum Bum Bum (Rock and Roll???)
2. Pudhu mappillaikku
3. Vanam enna (vettri Vizha)

It looks like IR used several of these patterns and created his own patterns as well to meet TFM requirements.

I remember the discussions on "Base guitar usage by our MDs" by TFM DF experts like Srikanth, Srinath, Rjay, Swamiji,Sashi, Sridhar and others. Interesting and informative discussions. Missing those discussions.

Thanks.

[alwarpet_andavan]

Thanks venus

[kalladicrapp]

the 'minnaa minungum' song from indias first 3d movie my dear k chathan is one ultimate tribute to Rajas mastery on bass guitar.

[narayanan]

How about Vizhiyil Vizhundhu from Alaigal Oyvadhillai ? Especially the slow female singer+guitar pieces towards the end of the song ('Kalvi Karka naalai sella' to end of song, infact include 2 'Vizhiyil Vizhundhu pieces before 'Kalvi Karka').

[smss_engineer]

I feel that the following songs have extraordinary Bass guitar work and those periods will not come back!

1. Thumbee vaa (Olangal).
2. Vanithavani vathanamohini from (Vikram).
3. Ennamma kannu (Mr.Bharath)- Also Excellent drum beats.
4. Oru kunguma sengamalam (movie?) superb song by IR/SPB combo.
5.sengamalam sirikuthu(Thaavani Kanavugal).
6. Vaan megam (Punnagai mannan) & Chinna chinna vanna kuyil (Mouna raagam)
- Definition for Bass guitar!
7. Illamaiyennum poonkaatru (Pagalil oru Iravu)
- This song can't be reproduced by anybody & IR himself forever.
8. Varuvvaay anbe tharuvai (Garjanai)
- How many treasures like this have been shelved?
9. Vaanengum thanga meenkal (Moondram pirai)
10. Ninaivellam nithya songs

and there are uncountable numbers of songs having great IR- bass touch in 1979-1990 periods.

Really we are missing these treats now.

[music man]

Other two songs are:
1)Vanna Kuyile thamizh tharum isaye..A Jayaram,Kushboo starrer which came in 1990's
2)Vanthal vanthal Rajakumari--Bhagyaraj movie..

[kiru]

Check out ilam pani thuli vizhum nEram. I had some here say that IR's use of the bass guitar is similar to 'basso continuo' in baroque music. Guitar Prasanna's explanation is it plays the rhythm switching to counter/highlight melody now and then. This explanation is something even non-technical people like me can understand. Once you are exposed to the nuances in IR's music it is very difficult to find a better source for tamil popular music.

[smss_engineer]

Some more songs!

1. Devanin Koil moodiya neram (Aruvadai naal)
-great song by chitra.

2. Jothiyelli jothi jothiyalli (Geetha)/Viziyile mani (Nooravathu naal)
- Great song with good alapana by TNS.

3. Meenkodi theril (Karumbu vil)
- Good song.

4. Pesakoodathu (Adutha vaarisu)- great violin pieces also!.
- I think He was in jolly mood while this album, all songs are jems and far ahead of its times (i think 1983) . these songs still rocks!

5. Ponvaanam panner thovum (movie?)
- this song is great with superb "bass+tabla+vocal" combo.

[kingvj]

Ponvaanam panner thovum (movie?)
- this song is great with superb "bass+tabla+vocal" combo.

It's from 'Indru Nee Naalai Naan' - Sivakumar/Lakshmi/Sulakshana/Jaishankar starrer.

My two cents :

Aala asathum malliye (Kanni Raasi)
Thaamraikkodi (Aanandhakkummi)
Ennamma Kannu (Mr. Bharath)
Devan Thiruchabai (Avar Enakkaey Sondham)
Senorita (Johnny) - the amazing starting bit
Pudhiya Poovidhu (Thendralaey Ennai Thodu)
Oh Maaney Maaney (Vellai Roja)
Netru Indha Naeram (Tik Tik Tik) - again, the amazing starting bit
Kavidhai paadu kuyilaey (Thendralaey ennai thodu)

[alwarpet_andavan]

Vaanile Thenila - Kakki Chattai [Pallavi, what a wonderful groove]
Endrendum Anandame - Kadal Meengal - HOW DID THIS MASTERPIECE GET OVERLOOKED!!!!!!!!

[Nakeeran]

Vaanile Thenila - Kakki Chattai [Pallavi, what a wonderful groove]
Endrendum Anandame - Kadal Meengal - HOW DID THIS MASTERPIECE GET OVERLOOKED!!!!!!!!

Highlight panna rendu paatum kamal padam . :twisted: Grrr. Grrr.....

Ok. Listen to ORU INIYA MANADHU ISAYAI ANAITHU CHELLUM - Johnny :D

This song is flooded with Bass .

IMO, IR pioneered this Bass concept in TFM though MSV used double bass in various songs .

[alwarpet_andavan]

"Kavidhai paadu kuyile" - Thendrale Ennai Thodu
Unconventional is conventional for IR when it comes to bass. In the Pallavi the bass merely nods its head to the main melody. However, in the charanams it takes on a bigger role with its stop-start-stop-start arresting routine.

[tmrrmt]

listen to 'valibamae vaa vaa' from 'Ram Lakshman' - has good bass lines besides an elegant ending to the charanam!

[tmrrmt]

this same song has a very RD Burmanish start!!

[Renault]

Vaanile Thenila - Kakki Chattai [Pallavi, what a wonderful groove]
Endrendum Anandame - Kadal Meengal - HOW DID THIS MASTERPIECE GET OVERLOOKED!!!!!!!!

Hi Alwarpet_Andawan,

I had brought discussions on this song in the "song of the day thread".

FYI.. the link:

http://tfmpage.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=6013&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=390

[alwarpet_andavan]

Hi Alwarpet_Andawan,

I had brought discussions on this song in the "song of the day thread".

FYI.. the link:

http://tfmpage.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=6013&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=390

Thanks Renault!

[tmrrmt]

guys - personal request - can any1 upload GOOD QUALITY MP3s of "Idhu oru nilaa kaalam" and "netru indha neram" from TIK TIK TIK ? both these songs have mindboggling bass lines!
thanks

[VillageGimp]

I feel that the following songs have extraordinary Bass guitar work and those periods will not come back!

1. Thumbee vaa (Olangal).
2. Vanithavani vathanamohini from (Vikram).
3. Ennamma kannu (Mr.Bharath)- Also Excellent drum beats.
4. Oru kunguma sengamalam (movie?) superb song by IR/SPB combo.
5.sengamalam sirikuthu(Thaavani Kanavugal).
6. Vaan megam (Punnagai mannan) & Chinna chinna vanna kuyil (Mouna raagam)
- Definition for Bass guitar!
7. Illamaiyennum poonkaatru (Pagalil oru Iravu)
- This song can't be reproduced by anybody & IR himself forever.
8. Varuvvaay anbe tharuvai (Garjanai)
- How many treasures like this have been shelved?
9. Vaanengum thanga meenkal (Moondram pirai)
10. Ninaivellam nithya songs

and there are uncountable numbers of songs having great IR- bass touch in 1979-1990 periods.

Really we are missing these treats now.

Ilaiya Nila (Payanangal Mudivathillai)
En Eniya ( Moodu Pani)

[Sanjeevi]

What is the difference between Guitar and Bass Guitar?

[kiru]

If you guys dig bass guitar so much listen to Santana- I suggest the album abraxas.

[VillageGimp]

What is the difference between Guitar and Bass Guitar?

The number of strings vary along with the scale compared to an electrical guitar. Complex notes can be played rather easily and it also provides a solo role to the instrumention (check the Adu Our Nila Kalam from Tik Tik Tik) compared to an electrical one. Learning might be bit difficult. There are pople who practice for more than a year but still feel they havent made much progress.

[thumburu]

Among his recent numbers, the Rasathanthram song "Thevaaram nokkumunne agale agale" has a superb bass line, even in the interludes